If you are clergy person or lay leader responsible for the financial management of your parish, you’ve come to the right place. If you are a lay leader who is guiding your parish through a clergy transition, or looking for supply clergy, you’re one click away from our Transitions section.
In this section you will find information on hiring, paying and administering the benefits of clergy and staff, paying your diocesan assessment, filing your parochial report and some background resources. This particular page is devoted to budgeting basics.
Budget Basics
In November, congregations are asked to make an annual pledge to the diocese to support the common mission undertaken by our bishop. The diocesan canon regulating congregational giving is Canon 40. This pledge is voluntarily given and the diocesan convention has set guidelines for giving. These voluntary giving guidelines are based on a congregation’s Line A as reported in its annual parochial report.
- If Line A is under $100,000 – Please pledge 11% of your income to the Diocese
- If Line A is $100,000-$200,000 – Please pledge 13% of your income to the Diocese
- If Line A is over $200,000 – Please pledge 15% of your income to the Diocese
All pledge payments should be sent to:
Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Treasurer’s Office
65 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611-2728
Budgeting and Business Resources
2024 Budget Guidelines from the diocese contain important information on clergy compensation and benefits, lay benefits and other budgetary issues.
The Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs (in English and Spanish), a publication of the Episcopal Church provides specific guidance on financial management; budgeting; cash management; investment management; internal control; bookkeeping; financial statements; financial reporting; payroll taxes; travel & expense reporting; clergy discretionary funds; audit guidelines; insurance; parochial reports; record management; and examples of commonly used forms.
In general, financial matters within any Diocesan entity are ruled by the Canons and Constitution of The Episcopal Church. More information is available in Canon 39 of the Diocese of Chicago Canons or Title 7 of The Episcopal Church.
If you are looking for models, view a PDF of a Monthly Report of Revenue and Expenses and an Excel example of a Financial Report.
Mileage: Effective January 1, 2024, automobile mileage can be reimbursed at the rate of $0.67 per mile. Beginning and ending mileage must be noted from your odometer. Reimbursement from home to office may not be submitted.
New: Paid Leave Ordinances for Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago
Effective January 1, 2024, new paid leave ordinances are in effect for employers in the State of Illinois and Cook County. A third ordinance for the City of Chicago goes into effect July 1, 2024. Which ordinance your organization follows is based on geographical location.
The following resources are intended to help employers determine which ordinances they need to follow:
- State of Illinois Effective 1/1/2024
- Cook County Effective 1/1/2024
- City of Chicago Effective 7/1/2024
Paid Leave for All Workers Act Required For All Illinois Employers
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act allows workers to earn up to five (5) days of leave from work each year. Workers can use paid leave for any reason and employers may not require workers to provide a basis for their time off request. Workers earn one (1) hour of paid leave for every 40 hours they work. If an employer has an existing policy, certain exceptions may apply. There are certain categories of workers that are not subject to the law.
• Workers in Illinois will begin earning paid time off on January 1, 2024.
• The new law allows workers to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave in a 12-month period.
• Workers will accrue one hour of leave for every 40 hours worked.
• The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) expects to further clarify how existing policies meet expectations of the law in rulemaking and additional resources will be shared as they are available.
For more information visit: https://labor.illinois.gov/faqs/paidleavefaq.html
Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance and Regulations
As of December 31, 2023, employees in Cook County can earn at least one (1) hour of paid leave for every forty (40) hours worked. This ordinance requires that all employers with employees in Cook County provide those employees with paid leave to be used for any reason.
For more information please visit Cook County’s Earned Sick Leave Ordinance and Regulations website.
City of Chicago Paid Leave Ordinance
On December 13, 2023 the Chicago City Council passed an amendment to the Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance (the Ordinance”). The Ordinance guarantees up to five days of paid time off and five days of paid sick leave for all of Chicago’s workers. The amendment delays the implementation of the ordinance until July 1, 2024.
For more information please visit the City of Chicago’s Office of Labor Standards website.
Contact Anna Stefaniak, canon for administration, with questions.